Thursday, January 20, 2011

Feasting My Way Through the Fancy Food Show 2011

I have decided on my new career. I want to be a person who visits food shows, eating the samples, taking pictures of cool food, eating the samples, meeting fun food personalities, and you guessed it, eating the samples. Wait, what do you mean such a job doesn't exist?

Such a job totally exists! I'm convinced the vendors who exhibited their food products at the Fancy Food Show at the Moscone Center in San Francisco have my dream job. The show was divided into two giant areas with the North side of the Center featuring more organic, natural products and the South side focusing on more traditionally packaged products. Overall, the show featured everything from unique, new food products to old favorites.

Cookies shaped like mushrooms covered in chocolate? What's not to love about that? A giant assortment of veggie and fruit purees designed to make sauce and smoothie making easier. Ingenious. And Tabasco-flavored chocolate. Interesting.

Everything I read about the show beforehand said to pace myself. What did I do as soon as I entered the exhibit hall? Kicked that advice to the curb. Within the first hour, I sampled everything from pizza and pasta to cheese and crackers to chocolate galore. Needless to say, I felt pretty sick for the second and third hour.

I used that time to chat with the millions of vendors who showcased their products, spoke knowledgeably and passionately about them, and um, provided samples. On display were large spreads of antipasta, a giant amount of black truffles, and a huge spread of flavored salt.

I also met not one, but two celebrities. I'm still trying to figure out whether it was cooler meeting Ina Garten (who was gracious and lovely in person) or the giant Jelly Belly Bean (who was cuddly and gave jelly bean samples). Oh, and I ate lots of pasta. See that glazed look in my eyes? That's because I'm holding bowls four and five on my pasta eating spree. Not because I'm physically incapable of turning down pasta but because my journalistic integrity means I have to be thorough in my pasta research.

And when I got tired of sampling (gasp!), there was so much to see and do until I got hungry again (ten minutes later). And yes, that is Van Gogh's Starry Night and Picasso's Mona Lisa made entirely out of jelly beans.

The best part about it all is coming home and sampling treats in the comfort of your home because let's face it, all of the chocolate started tasting the same after the fifteenth chocolate sample. Here are some of the most unique (and delicious!) products I tried (and loved!):

1) Turbano Plantain Chips - Crunchy and tasty without that oily feel of potato chips. I was partial (super partial) to the Chile Lime flavor. Ingredients: fresh plaintain, vegetable oil, salt, and chile lime flavor. Four ingredients?!? How can you not love that?

2) Gold Rush Kettle Corn - I have no idea how they make packaged kettle corn taste like it just came out of well, a kettle, but these people have perfected that art.

3) Krave Beef Jerky - I thought I didn't like beef jerky because I associated it with those tough sticks sold in gas stations but this beef jerky was so tender and flavorful. I was a fan!

4) Materne GoGo Squeez - Applesauce in a squeezable pouch. No sugar added, 100% fruit, no spoon needed. This stuff is so convenient and delicious, I don't even feel bad that I'm an adult eating applesauce out of a squeezie pouch.

Mushroom shaped chocolate covered cookies? Yes please! No, I'm not easily sold, not at all ;-) And jelly bean art? How cool is that? Ms. Mona Lisa's lucky I wasn't there or she may not have an arm right now...teehee. Sounded like you had a great time, Azmina. Sorry you you got sick though :(Thanks for sharing this experience!

Ok, that jelly bean art was amazing. To me THOSE people need jobs. Who seriously takes the time to arrange jelly beans like that?

What a cool experience though. They have so many expos and shows like that here but I never bother to check them. I'm going to have to change that. It looks like you had too much fun and came home with too much cool stuff (all of which I'd collect for Dudette, you understand) Ha.

I am so J of you! You met Ina Garten??? WoW! I think this job is cool ...no kicking the ass and slogging in kitchen to cook food and wash dishes..I am ready to be your assistant even if u dont need one :)

That would be a great job. those chocolate mushroom cookies look great. tabasco flavored choclate sounds interesting.i am going to google for food shows in our place immediately. it's so much fun.you look lovely with the gaint jelly bean. all excited like a lil kid:)

I'm so jealous.....in a good way:) I love Ina and I would love to try and make a food show. Never have I been and I know I'm missing out. Looks like you had a great time and learned tons and ate tons.....of samples:) Thanks for sharing! I love posts like this because it inspires me to get out there and just do it! :)

I'm so happy to hear that you met Ina! How fun is that! I used to have to go to home security conventions with my dad (He's in the security business). I would love to go to conference dedicated to food! Thank you for sharing yet another engaging post. I hope you have a wonderful weekend...enjoy yourself and eat well!

The Mona Lisa in jellybeans?? No way! I can't even draw that, much less make it out of jellybeans :P

I'm glad you had a great time! It looks like so much fun - I mean, with bowls and bowls of pasta, how could it not be awesome? Those chocolate mushroom things are too cute (and delicious I'm sure). Where can I apply for this job?? :)

If you get that job, can I be your assistant? I'm fine even with just carrying your bag around...it would be a bag full of food after all :)Too bad my stomach bug hit me just the week of this festival. I will have to go next time.

You literally should've seen my face just now when I read that you met my FOOD HERO Ina Garten! ARGH! My jaw dropped, my shoulders tensed and a great look of incredulous jealousy came over my entire being. Officially hate you now*.

What fun! So glad you took lots of photos!

Jax x

*Of course I don't hate you, quite the opposite, but I am uber-jealous!